This is the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept car

In celebration of its 100th birthday, BMW earlier this year unveiled its Vision Next 100 Vehicle, a glimpse of what the future of the automotive industry may look like. Now, it’s Rolls-Royce’s turn.

The BMW subsidiary recently unveiled its Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept. Built with the same length and height proportions as the land yacht that is the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Vision Next 100 is about as “out there” as it gets for a concept car.

The vehicle (which will never make it to production in this form) features a zero-emissions powertrain with an interior that looks more akin to a swanky lounge than an automobile. There’s a small sofa in the cabin – yes, a sofa in a car – wrapped in silk alongside Macassar wood trim and deep-pile ivory wool carpet.

Of course, there’s no steering wheel or instrument cluster as the vehicle is fully autonomous. All interaction is handled through a personal digital assistant named Eleanor. A cabin-wide transparent OLED will presumably serve as your entertainment during trips.

The exterior of the vehicle is, well, different. In my opinion, it has the face that only a mother could love. There must be some unwritten rule which dictates that prototypes / concepts must feature the ugliest wheel coverings imaginable (such was even the case with early hybrids until not all that long ago).

The Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament and the Pantheon grille immediately signify that you’re looking at a Rolls-Royce.

What are your thoughts on the Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept? Are there any elements that you’d welcome or is the whole thing a bit too futuristic and unusual for you? Let us know in the comments section below!